Red Hot Chili Peppers are back! California’s beloved alternative/funk-rock group have returned after a five year hiatus with a brand new album entitled I'm With You; but this time around they are without their famed guitarist, John Frusciante, who left after becoming disillusioned with the idea of being in a touring rock band. Fans and critics were skeptical about how RHCP might fill the void, as Frusciante was so instrumental to the group dynamic and made immeasurable contributions both on guitar and on backing vocals.
Enter Josh Klinghoffer: a long-time friend of the band who was deemed the obvious choice as Frusciante’s replacement. Along with his guitar, he also lends a crooning falsetto to back the vocals of lead-singer Anthony Kiedis. He makes his debut on this album and introduces a new era in the Chili Peppers’ saga. A word of warning to RHCP fans: Klinghoffer is not a stand in for John Frusciante. Frusciante’s guitar-slinging was very prominent in many Chili Pepper songs and he never hesitated to wow listeners with a face-melting solo. Klinghoffer is a bit more reserved: he takes turns unleashing a solo only when the song demands it but more often plays funky riffs that accent the rest of the band. As such, most of the songs on this album are built around this new construct where the other three members are prominently featured just as often if not more than Klinghoffer and his guitar. In fact, if one had to choose an MVP of the album it would be none other than Flea, who steps up with fervor and brandishes his newly acquired composition skills. He carries songs like “Factor of Faith” and “Goodbye Hurray” with mind-blowing bass lines that dance ferociously around the drums. At the same time, he proves himself to be a renaissance man when he picks up the trumpet in “Did I Let You Know” and plays the piano on a few tracks.
While the absence of Frusciante and addition of Klinghoffer are notable differences in the music, the album itself is not revolutionary but rather evolutionary. RHCP have not set out to reinvent themselves in the way that bands like Incubus have but they do seem to have grown as artists. Kiedis’ verses lock into the instrumental so well, whether he’s spattering out rap-sing or belting out the chorus. Drummer, Chad Smith, creates masterful fills that sound like songs within songs. You’ll find a few surprises on the album: a couple songs drift into indie-pop territory yet still possess that innate Chili Peppers kick to them. Below are a few notable tracks:
- “Monarchy of Roses” is a disco-funk medley that is lively and adrenaline infused. A Frusciante guitar solo might have given it that panache that fans are craving but as the first track on the album it certainly gives you something to look forward.
- “Factory of Faith” is worth listening to if only for Flea’s pulsating bass-line that will be running loops around your head.
- “Brendan’s Death Song” is a melancholy tribute to Brendan Mullen, a close friend of the band who passed away. It starts with a beautiful acoustic intro before launching into a death-defying rock ballad in the same fashion as previous Peppers hit, “My Friends.”
- “The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie” was the first single released- it’s a billboard certified hit and deserves praise for bringing back that highly underrated instrument—the cowbell.
- “Did I let you Know” is just that awesome, California-bred tune that you were waiting for RHCP to unleash. The best surprise is a trumpet solo from Flea. This will undoubtedly sound amazing live.
- “Dance, Dance, Dance” is another hip-shaker that channels Foster the People and Two Door Cinema Club…but in a good way.
While the new album is not RHCP’s greatest work, it is still very strong and reaffirms that they are back in business. In an interview, Flea revealed that they actually wrote around seventy songs over the course of the year, which means we may not have to wait too long for the next album to drop. (read the full interview: http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/14204476). The band already announced an international tour that will commence in September, though a domestic tour around the U.S. has not been scheduled until 2012.
The new album will be available on August 30th, you can preorder it here: http://redhotchilipeppers.com/preorder/
However, you can stream the entire album now for FREE on iTunes: http://www.itunes.com/rhcp
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